KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 8): Khat (Jawi calligraphy) will be introduced as an optional lesson in the Bahasa Malaysia syllabus for Year Four next year, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said. 

This was decided by the Cabinet, following objections to its introduction as a compulsory part of the syllabus, he said at a press conference in Putrajaya on Thursday, Bernama reported. 

"The Cabinet decided that the introduction of khat will be optional, with teachers given the power to decide how to use their creativity to implement it in their respective classrooms," he said. 

Maszlee Malik said the introduction of khat would be contained in three pages of the Bahasa Melayu textbook, instead of six pages as announced earlier. 

Maszlee said the ministry would, from time to time, continue holding engagement sessions with all quarters for the benefit of the national education system.

He said the introduction of khat was mainly aimed at introducing the Malay heritage to the students.

The ministry will only introduce the students to what is already close to them, such as the khat and Jawi script found on the Coat of Arms of Malaysia and the states, on banknotes, on the Declaration of Independence, or on the Royal Malaysia Police logo, he said.

“This is not about Arabication or Islamisation. It’s about introducing our children to the culture and history of Bahasa Melayu. It’s about respecting the existing culture and heritage,” he said. 

In a press statement, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the Cabinet decision that khat is not compulsory and will not be tested in exams, would hopefully allow Malaysians to move forward. 

“Malaysians from all walks of life, should engage more with each other, to understand the concerns that divide us and aspirations that unite us. 

“Let us work together with full respect for diversity and appreciation for each other's differences that makes us stronger and more successful,” he said. 

Lim said the Education Ministry’s earlier decision to introduce khat in Chinese and Tamil primary schools without prior consultation with the stakeholders, had led to general suspicion that there was a hidden agenda in the Education Ministry. 

“The Education Minister has denied this and said that this new syllabus introducing seni khat or Jawi for Standard 4, was formulated and decided by the previous government,” he said.